FFMVic actions to reduce bushfire risk

Actions being taken to reduce fuel-driven bushfire risk

FFMVic in partnership with the CFA develops a three-year JFMP which sets out the statewide program of fuel management works on public and private land. Each region designs a JFMP with the intent of meeting the objectives of its regional Bushfire Management Strategy, including meeting long-term regional and district planning targets for managing fuel-driven bushfire risk.

While rainfall variability, bushfires and other emergency management responsibilities challenge delivery of the planned burning program, FFMVic works to ensure that fuel-driven bushfire risk is being driven down to the greatest extent possible.

Modelling effectiveness of each burn in reducing bushfire risk and applying an adaptable approach to workforce management ensures that FFMVic are always targeting burns which provide the greatest risk reduction outcomes across the state.

FFMVic prioritises burns in regions and districts with risk levels exceeding long-term planning targets and focuses on getting burns on Years 1 and 2 of the JFMP to ‘Ready’ status (planned and prepared) ahead of autumn so they can take advantage of all available burning opportunities. This helps to ensure that long-term risk planning targets are met as planned for in the JFMP, and ensures that opportunities are available across the state, to take advantage of suitable fuel and weather conditions for planned burning.

FFMVic supports its planned burn program with a large program of non-burn fuel treatments, including mowing and slashing, as well as maintenance of the strategic fuel break network and management of storm debris.

Additional actions being taken by FFMVic ahead of the coming 2024-25 bushfire season

Fuel management is only one of the ways that FFMVic and the broader bushfire and emergency management sector manage bushfire risk. The risk reduction benefits of these management actions are not currently able to be modelled and quantified in the same way as FFMVic’s planned burning program.

Non-burn fuel treatments and strategic fuel breaks are effective at both improving fire agency’s ability to supress bushfires and to successfully conduct planned burns. Over recent years FFMVic has continued to invest in expanded non-burn fuel treatments and the construction and maintenance of strategic fuel breaks in preparation for the upcoming fire season. FFMVic will continue to monitor weather conditions and take advantage of opportunities to undertake bushfire risk reduction activities in and around Victorian communities ahead of the 2024-25 bushfire season.

FFMVic has been working closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to identify increased bushfire risk profiles and will continue to ensure that its fire detection network is activated accordingly.

Statewide, FFMVic will have close to 1,800 personnel on the frontline this bushfire season supplemented by FFMVics 3,000 personnel who perform a fire or emergency role, which also include around 1,200 personnel who hold accreditations in incident management roles.

In addition, FFMVic employs 4 dedicated rappel crews with specialist remote firefighting skills to bolster its remote fire suppression capabilities. To aid early detection of remote bushfires, DEECA maintains 65 Fire towers across the state. These fire towers are activated ahead of elevated risk days and provide crucial information for the effective dispatch of first response crews.

FFMVic firefighting equipment includes 523 ultralight tankers, around 94 heavy tankers, 47 medium first attack dozers and transporters and 16 large dozers.

FFMVic’s response capabilities are also supported by a plant panel of around 404 contractors (including 17 harvest and haulage contractors) that can be called upon for bushfire suppression work using skilled personnel, bulldozers, graders, excavators, harvesters and other machinery.

Ground operations are also supported by Victoria's aerial fleet of 54 aircraft contracted for the 2024-25 bushfire season. The fleet includes a mix of firebombing aircraft, air supervision and aerial information gathering aircraft. It is supplemented by additional aircraft that can be called when needed.

Readiness arrangements in place across the State take into consideration a range of factors including levels of fuel-driven bushfire risk, ensuring that firefighting personnel and equipment are prepositioned to optimise bushfire suppression effectiveness.

DEECA with FFMVic partners is well prepared to fulfil its responsibilities as the control agency for the suppression of bushfires on public land.

Steps community members can take to reduce their risk

Victorians who live in, work in, or visit areas at risk of bushfires need to know how to plan for and respond to fire. Everyone in Victoria who lives near forest, bush, or grassland needs to prepare their property and household for bushfire.

There are some simple steps you can take to get ready now:

• Visit fireplanner.vic.gov.au to create your Bushfire Plan. This plan will help you determine where you will go, when you will leave, who you will protect, and what you will take. Practising your plan ensures you’re ready for fire season.
• Familiarise yourself with the new Australian Fire Danger Ratings and check them every day during the fire season. There are four ratings – Moderate, High, Extreme, and Catastrophic. It’s essential to know what rating will trigger your Bushfire Plan. On days of Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger, it is safest to leave early – the night before or early in the morning, before any fires start.
• Download the VicEmergency app, set up watch zones, and enable notifications to stay informed. Emergency warnings through the app, website, hotline (1800 226 226), and ABC emergency broadcaster can guide your decisions during a fire. Agencies work year-round to maintain roads and tracks for safe evacuation, but it’s always safest to leave early.
• If you’re travelling or visiting state forests, head to exploreoutdoors.vic.gov.au for safety tips and advice to plan your trip. Always extinguish campfires completely, ensuring they are cool to touch before leaving. Remember, it’s an offence under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 to leave a campfire unattended.

Visit cfa.vic.gov.au for additional resources and guidance to help you prepare for bushfire season.

DEECA Bushfire Recovery

Recovery from bushfires in 2019-20

DEECA, including FFMVic and other portfolio areas, works with a range of partners including other agencies, local businesses, Traditional Owners, and communities to help Victoria prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency events.

Following major bushfires, DEECA is responsible for a diverse range of emergency recovery activities across the agriculture, energy, environment and water portfolios.

Following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, there has been more than $225 million in direct recovery investment across the former Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning, including significant wildlife, biodiversity and public land recovery activities.

While the majority of these bushfire recovery activities have now been delivered, remaining initiatives from 2023 - 2025 include:

• reinstating and recovery of visitor assets and critical infrastructure on public land in fire-affected regions including road, crossings and walking trail restoration.
• rainwater and septic tank replacement program with rebates for households to have safe access to potable water and high-quality wastewater disposal systems.
• planning, building and geotechnical rebates to households to facilitate reconstruction of more resilient homes.

Following more recent localised bushfires at Briagolong, Loch Sport, Bayindeen-Rocky Road, Dadswell Bridge and Pomonal, each community is at a different stage of recovery. DEECA is continuing to manage immediate risks with local resources, progress insurance claims and assess longer-term recovery needs.

A range of emergency stabilisation activities have been delivered through the emergency response including:

• managing waste pollution strategies including Waste Levy Waivers and Gate Fee Rebates.
• erosion control on public land to help manage risks to safety, values and infrastructure.
• assisting farmers to repair and restore fences damaged by bushfire or suppression activities with the Country Fire Authority.
• ensuring the replacement of essential stock and domestic water required from private landholders during firefighting operations.

Table 49 summarises the bushfire recovery initiatives implemented by DEECA in 2023-24.

Table 49: Summary of DEECA bushfire recovery initiatives implemented in 2023-24.